João 3
F.B. Meyer · Citado em PreceptAustin
João 3:30
Meyer - Devotionally oriented). When F. B. Myer was in the very zenith of his ministry in London there came to London a nineteen year old boy. And overnight, I don’t mean over a day or over a week, I mean overnight that boy was world famous. They’d take that boy, about twenty-one years old now, they’d take that boy and put him in the biggest hall, seat twenty-thousand people, take him put him in a hall in London, and you couldn’t get in the place. It was phenomenal. The young fellow’s name was Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Rodney Sawtell is a student in Spurgeon’s College. That’s their seminary in England. And when Spurgeon came to London and the throngs gathered to hear him preach, and his name was on every lip––when David Livingston died, he died with a copy of one of Spurgeon’s sermons in the top of his hat––and F. B. Myer says in one of those little personal glimpses in his autobiography that when Spurgeon came to London and the throngs turned toward him, and his name was spoken on every street by every heart, he said he was filled with envy. Well brother, I could sure understand that. Think of that. Right in the zenith of his ministry a young fellow come and the throngs go hear him and just forget about him. F. B. Myer says, “I took it to the Lord; got down on my knees and on my face before the Lord, and I said to the Lord, ‘It’s not right, this feeling of envy that I have in my heart.’” F. B. Myer began praying for Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the boy wonder, the boy preacher. He began asking God to give him a double portion of the Spirit from Heaven, give him twice as many souls. Give him a fame that circles the world ten times, not once. And F. B. Myer says it was not long until he began to look upon every triumph of the young Spurgeon as though it were his own. When Spurgeon would preach to thousands of people, Myer said he’d rejoice as though he himself had done it (Ed: cp John the Baptist's response - Jn 3:29). And when Spurgeon won throngs to the Lord it was as though Myer had done it, he said, he so prayed for the young fellow and rejoiced in his glorious ministry. That is the spirit of John the Baptist; in honor, preferring one another, rejoicing in somebody else’s success, glorying in God’s blessings upon him. The spirit of John the Baptist, “This my joy, therefore, is complete,” it’s full and running over. A third thing; it is not only humbleness in glory, it’s not only joy in another’s success, but it is devotion in preparation for their work. “He must increase, I must decrease. "I’m just getting ready for Him. That’s my mission, my calling, my assignment, my task; He must increase, I must decrease.” Getting ready for the great work to come. Haven’t you read this poem? The Bridge Builder An old man going a lonely way, Came at the evening, cold and grey, To a chasm vast, and deep, and wide, The old man crossed in the twilight dim, The sullen stream had no fear for him But he turned when safe on the other side, And built a bridge to span the tide Old man, said a fellow pilgrim near, You’re wasting your strength with building here Your journey will end with the ending day, You never again will pass this way You’ve crossed the chasm deep and wide, Then why build a bridge to span the tide? The builder lifted his old grey head, Good friend, in the path I’ve come, he said There followeth after me today, A youth whose feet must pass this way This chasm that has been naught to me, To a fair head youth may a pitfall be He too must cross in the twilight dim, Good Friend, I am building this bridge for him. --Will Allen Dromgoole Oh, in a thousand ways, and upon a thousand times do I think about this in the work we’re trying to do. There’s a generation coming after us. There’s a throng of young men and women who are going down this road. I’ve got to make ready their way and they’re coming. We’ve got to do good for them. And may we rejoice, and exalt the Lord, and exalt in His name as we see them coming up, and someday taking our places. Somewhere there’s a young fellow whom God is preparing for this pulpit, a dedicated, consecrated boy, somewhere. We’re getting ready for them, the generation that is following after us. O Master, whether it’s in the home with our children, or whether it’s in the church with our Lord, God bless us as we make a good ready for them. (THE SPIRIT OF JOHN THE BAPTIST) Brian Bell - Every young student knows of Isaac Newton’s famed encounter with a falling apple. Newton discovered and introduced the laws of gravity in the 1600s, which revolutionized astronomical studies. But few know that if it weren’t for Edmund Halley, the world might never have learned from Newton. It was Halley who challenged Newton to think through his original notions. Halley corrected Newton’s mathematical errors and prepared geometrical figures to support his discoveries. Halley coaxed the hesitant Newton to write his great work, Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. Halley edited and supervised the publication, and actually financed its printing even though Newton was wealthier and easily could have afforded the printing costs. Historians call it one of the most selfless examples in the annals of science. Newton began almost immediately to reap the rewards of prominence; Halley received little credit. He did use the principles to predict the orbit and return of the comet that would later bear his name, but only AFTER his death did he receive any acclaim. And because the comet only returns every 76 years, the notice is rather infrequent. Halley remained a devoted scientist who didn’t care who received the credit as long as the cause was being advanced. (John 3:22-36) Brian Bell -After a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, the audience gave conductor Arturo Toscanini and the Orchestra a prolonged ovation. Toscanini, filled with emotion, turned to his musicians and whispered, “I am nothing, you are nothing.” Then, in almost adoring tones, Toscanini said, “But Beethoven is everything!” Likewise, we must recognize that Jesus is everything! (John 3:22-36) Barnhouse… When Christ's ministry began to take pre-eminence, John the Baptist said, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). This must be the attitude of every believer who would have the mind of Christ. Each must realize that it is not degrading to take a position of equality with all other believers, accepting the place of no reputation so that, by grace, we may be transformed and the divine nature be manifested in us. In fact, we are told, "In humility count others better than yourselves" (Phil. 2:3). Harry
João 3:30
Meyer comments: And this humility was characteristic of John, though he was the greatest of woman-born (Mt 11:11 - Jesus' assessment of John!). He knew that he was not the Light (Jn 1:8), but sent to bear witness of it (Jn 1:7); not the Sun (Mal 4:2), but the star that announces the dawn, and wanes in the growing light; not the Bridegroom, but the Bridegroom's friend (Jn 3:29); not the Shepherd, but the porter to open the door into the fold (Jn 3:27, 28, 29, 30; 10:3). This humility is as rare as it is fascinating. We are all so apt to use our relationship to Christ as a means of enhancing our own importance, and attracting attention. Though we formally ascribe the supremacy to our Lord, we are elated when our name is on every lip (Ed: cp Pr 27:21 - O Lord deliver me from the sin of usurping Thy glory in any way. Amen! - Is 42:8, 48:11, Ex 34:14, Dt 4:24), and our work in every thought, even though we should never have been heard of had it not been for Him. (Ed: Beloved, are you as convicted by Meyer's words as I am?) But there was nothing of this in John. He had the lowest possible conception of himself. Whilst all men mused in their hearts whether he were the Christ, he was ever heralding the Coming One. As they magnified the worth of his baptism, he declared that it was inferior to the Messiah's, as water is to fire in cleansing properties (Mt 3:11, Mk 1:7, 8). When they trembled before his searching words, he spoke of the great Husbandman, who, fan in hand, was about thoroughly to purge his floor (Mt 3:12). The motto of his inner life seems to have been, "I must decrease." Repeatedly he avowed himself unfit even to loose the sandal-thong of Him whose herald he was. Two things led him to this blessed condition.--In the first place, he realized that a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven (Jn 3:27); and that therefore all popularity, gifts, and influence, are precious talents to be administered with the best possible stewardship. And in the second place, he had seen the Lord, as was clear from the answer he gave to the further inquiry of the deputation concerning his right to baptize. "It is quite true," said he, in effect, "that I am not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor that Prophet (Dt 18:15 a prophecy of Messiah); but listen! Though ye know it not, the Messiah is already come, and I have seen Him. He has stood on these banks. He has mingled with these crowds. He has descended into these waters. He is standing amongst you now. The new era has dawned. And therefore I administer baptism, the sign and initiation of that long-expected time." What awe must have settled down on the people! How they must have looked at each other, wondering of whom he spoke! Could it be that at last the day had come of which kings and prophets and righteous men had spoken, but died without seeing! And can we wonder at the humility of the speaker? We need to cultivate more of this lovely spirit, content to stand in the shade and cast a light on the blessed Lord; to be voices witnessing for Him, whilst the speaker's form is draped in gloom. But probably nothing but close friendship with the Bridegroom of souls will ever bring this about. We must live nearer to Him, catching the glow of His love, baptized into its furnace heat. Oh, to love Him, to listen for His footfall with a lover's hushed spirit, to find our heaven only in His love, and in the thought that He is loved! Then we shall be timid of attracting a single thought to ourselves which might have found its way to Him. Then we shall be eager to hoard up all the love and devotion which men give us, that we may cast them as crowns at his feet. Then we shall be willing to be pedestals from which his beams shine the farther; as the slender, graceful curves of the lighthouse tower are unseen, whilst from its lantern the reflectors flash beams of light far out to sea. It is only to those thus humble as little children (cp Mt 18:4, 19:14) that God reveals the true character of his Son. Thus it was with John the Baptist. (from F. B. Meyer. Gospel of John - Jn 1:23, 29, 37 Three Memorable Days ) CONTRAST BETWEEN JESUS AND JOHN Jesus the Messiah John the Baptist The Christ Not the Christ The bridegroom Friend of the bridegroom Must increase Must decrease From above, Above all Speaks the Words of God Of the earth Speaks of the earth Notice that the table above ends with summary quotes from John 3:31, 34 where the Baptist gives additional "commentary" explaining why Christ should continually be increasing… He who comes from above is above all (Note: Not just "above me", not just above John the Baptist but above all men - this fact alone would be ample reason to justify Jesus' continually increasing!), he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all… 34 For He Whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure. John